1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Split Second. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”.
The play takes place on July 4th and starts off with Willis, a criminal, being chased down then shot by officer Val. After staging the crime scene to look like Val was using self defense, Val then lies about what really happened at the scene of the murder to Parker. This initial lie is what makes the plays plot start to roll.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrusion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
The intrusion occurs when Val initially lies to Parker about how Willis was shot in the heart.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor is that Willis was trying to steal the car. If it hadn't have been for this then Willis wouldn't have been chased and then shot by Val. Willis would still be alive if he had just decided not to steal the car.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Val finally tell the truth about what happened?
Will Val be sent to jail?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
The first obstacle Val must overcome is the me against another individual. In the beginning of the play Val must make catch and make the split second decision on if he should or should not kill Willis. The second obstacle he most overcome is the me against society. Val must overcome the law by telling lies to get himself out of it instead of owning up to his actions.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
The most theatrical moment in the play is when Val fires the fun on Willis.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The first image is when Val shot Willis. This is because Val is a black man who shot Willis, a white man, and this goes completely against the norms of our society. The second image is the name itself. Split second is referring to Val making a split second decision to kill Willis. The final image is the knife. Without the knife Val would not have the ability to lie about what happened. He was able to plant it on Willis and from there Val can try and lie his way out of this situation
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
Discrimination
Abuse of power
Deceit
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
Family is a big factor in Split Second because of the relationship between Val and his father. Val must live up to his fathers expectations of how to be a good officer, which Val can never seem to achieve. Once Val tells his father about shooting Willis, Val and his father get into an argument on what a stand up police officer should have done. Val's father wants him to now do whats right and turn himself in while Val's wife Alea wants Val to continue to lie so that they can continue to live a normal happy life.
The play takes place on July 4th and starts off with Willis, a criminal, being chased down then shot by officer Val. After staging the crime scene to look like Val was using self defense, Val then lies about what really happened at the scene of the murder to Parker. This initial lie is what makes the plays plot start to roll.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrusion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
The intrusion occurs when Val initially lies to Parker about how Willis was shot in the heart.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor is that Willis was trying to steal the car. If it hadn't have been for this then Willis wouldn't have been chased and then shot by Val. Willis would still be alive if he had just decided not to steal the car.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Val finally tell the truth about what happened?
Will Val be sent to jail?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
The first obstacle Val must overcome is the me against another individual. In the beginning of the play Val must make catch and make the split second decision on if he should or should not kill Willis. The second obstacle he most overcome is the me against society. Val must overcome the law by telling lies to get himself out of it instead of owning up to his actions.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
The most theatrical moment in the play is when Val fires the fun on Willis.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The first image is when Val shot Willis. This is because Val is a black man who shot Willis, a white man, and this goes completely against the norms of our society. The second image is the name itself. Split second is referring to Val making a split second decision to kill Willis. The final image is the knife. Without the knife Val would not have the ability to lie about what happened. He was able to plant it on Willis and from there Val can try and lie his way out of this situation
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
Discrimination
Abuse of power
Deceit
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
Family is a big factor in Split Second because of the relationship between Val and his father. Val must live up to his fathers expectations of how to be a good officer, which Val can never seem to achieve. Once Val tells his father about shooting Willis, Val and his father get into an argument on what a stand up police officer should have done. Val's father wants him to now do whats right and turn himself in while Val's wife Alea wants Val to continue to lie so that they can continue to live a normal happy life.